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Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by grzesko, Apr 10, 2020.

  1. grzesko

    grzesko New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2020
    11
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    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Just bought a 17 prius v - what do I need to know? I had a 08 years ago. issues? concerns?
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,489
    5,056
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Its the best and last US version available. They slightly improved the engine’s reliability by then. Toyota did not make many 2017 v’s so they were hard to find in 2017. Now 2020 Prii are hard to find with many dealers having zero on the lot. The hybrid Rav4 pretty much took the v’s place.
     
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
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    Old Here

    I never owned or operated that Gen or model Prius. So I don't have any specifics.
    But I would say you're in the right place.
    I would just spend some time browsing the specific Prius v forum. Reading various threads.
    If you develop specific questions, you can find the answers here.

    Off hand, I never read anything "bad" about the model.
    Maybe it's biggest issue is that it's no longer available.

    PS.
    Your post say's 17 Prius v.
    Your profile says 2018 Prius v.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome!

    how many miles on her? read up on egr cleaning

    all the best!(y)
     
  5. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,489
    5,056
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    There are plenty of failure modes on a third gen prius v but the advantage here is its a 2017 with some of the issues like oil burning and inverters improved. Reading through the forum is likely to discourage anyone with the "possible" expensive problems but generally speaking you are in great shape through 150,000 miles and may get 200k without serious issues. Change the oil every 5k and consider doing an egr cleaning at least every 100k (which is expensive other than diy).
     
  6. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
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    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
  7. grzesko

    grzesko New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2020
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Not too concerned about the MPG - The v is twice the car my Honda fit was, and gets 10 more mpg, I can live with that. My wife was concerned with buying a discontinued model. I am a little concerned also now, hopefully it's a good investment. It only has 40k on it.
     
  8. Ronald Doles

    Ronald Doles Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2019
    230
    280
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    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    We bought a 2015 Prius V with 60k miles about a year ago. We have had nothing but Hondas since 1985 and we have never owned a hybrid vehicle. Nothing to report so far. We have put about 15k miles on it. We just drive it.

    It replaced a 97 Odyssey that we drove for 21 years and 268,000 miles. The 97 wasn't like the current generation Odyssey, it was a four door station wagon with a 4 cylinder engine. I have always done the routine maintenance on our vehicles. I drive a vehicle until it dies or something fails that I deemed was too difficult for me to repair in my garage. A power steering hose failed. I bought the hose but the nut on the lower end of the hose where it attached to the power steering rack crumbled when I tried to remove it. It meant that I would also have to replace the power steering rack so I knew that it was time to let it go.

    We began a search for something like the Odyssey. We wanted a small four door, 4 cylinder station wagon. We drive several trips a day of under 10 miles and a few longer trips. This Prius V fit the bill. Even though we got the level 2 (base model) it has so many so many features that didn't even exist 20 years ago. Button start, seven airbags, CD player, bluetooth, more audio modes than we will ever use and keyless door locks. Best of all, while the Odyssey probably got around 30 mpg on the highway, it got about 20 mpg with our driving routine. The Prius V returns around 45 mpg on every tank.

    I recently changed the oil and filter. The bottom of the engine compartment is covered with a plastic cover to improve aerodynamics. There is a hinged plastic panel door under the engine oil pan and filter that you have to unbutton. Toyota uses a cartridge oil filter that drops into a removable cup. It requires a special wrench to remove the cup. I thought spin-on filters were an industry standard. Having purchased the wrench and done the oil change once it is not a problem, it is just different.

    If you spend much time on this site, you will read about the EGR cooler service that needs done at about 100k miles. My Odyssey's all required a timing belt/water pump service at 100k miles so we just traded one service for the other.

    Other than that, you just have to take it a day at a time. Stay safe.
     
  9. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
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    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II

    We got our v to replace our Mazda MPV...great van...but the damned thing rusted out like no tomorrow.

    The v has a *huge* amount of room....especially if you remove the rear seats. We remove the rear seats when we move our daughter to and from college...works great! I also removed the rear seats for a couple road trips my son and I did. Hmm...I think I have a few pics of it somewhere around here...I'll update this post as soon as I find them.

    Edit : And here it is!

    Hi all, new Prius v owner | Page 7 | PriusChat
     
  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,489
    5,056
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Like I suggested above, its an excellent car with the best hybrid system available. Even buying a new battery at 200k is not a killer if you consider the gallons of gas you did not buy. The vehicle is solid and down here holds up well but we don’t have salt on the road. If we did I would have it undercoated with Fluid Film every couple of years. Bottom line, drive it for 100k-150k more miles and then replace it. Maybe take it to Eric O at South Main Auto in Avoca (also on youtube). FLUID FILM | Powerful Corrosion Protection & Lubrication
     
    Tim Jones likes this.